Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-09-22
STUBBORN STATESMEN
WHO INSIST ON SEEING A "NlGGER
IN THE FENCE"

Railway Man-S0me More Explanation
of the Difficulty and Cost of Talking
Up" Railway to Congressmen-But
There Was no Crookedness Whatever.
NEW YORK, Sept % AT Wednesdays
session of the Pacific railroad commission
some of Mr. Huntington's interesting letters
were read. Huntington's memory was not
much better than that of his debiitated
partner Mr.. Croker A letter dated March
q, 1876, contained this passage; Scott is
making dirty fight, but if l don't live to
see the grass grow over him am very much
mistaken" Hnntington's comment on this
prophetic allusion was that he had kept his
record pretty clean and was not ashamed Of
it, but he did not wish to insinuate that Col.
Scott had used money in any but proper
way to influence legislation.
The id hog" from California was re-
ferred to in another letter, and San Fran
cisco was advised not to send back such
-scavenger" TO congress Huntington re-
fused to say whether the man referred to
WAS either Page, Piper, or Luttrell, the mem
bers from California. He said there We're a
lot of little good-for-nothing drinking MEM
bers, who paid no attention to their duties,
and he did what he could to prevent any of
thsrn from returning He said: II was not
working purely for myself, but did many
things for the public in a mo lest and quiet
way would not use or advise the use of
the money of the Central Pacific to defeat
candidate for congress, but l would cheer
fully chip in, as | have for years, to help
friend defeat a man did not think a proper
representative of the people.
Still another letter in which Huntington
tried to arrange for an exclusion OF twenty
five southern congressman over the route OF
the Southern Pacific road at an expense of
$40 600 was read, aud the witness explained
that, while the excursion never took place
he thought the proposed expenditure proper
and right for the purpose Ut educating con-
ssreSs to the needs of the country in regard 10
the matter Of the road.
During the examination Huntington was
very nervous, and at times choleric He fire.
uuenty broke into indignant remOnstrance at
the course the examination was taking. Once
he said: ''Thuse letters We're all written by
Iu,npiight in NV office after the wotty of an
ariuous days toll, and if had known that
WAS to he investigated by the government
would have made use of words that could not
was, l rnade USE of those l thought the most
expressive | would also have kept record
Of the most minute details concerning these
transactions | never thought, however,
that d great government would go back on a
most sacred contract and follow us here aud
there TO find out where this dollar and that
huIlar was put, when We lived up 10 our con-
tract religiously and built the road within
the governments appropriation.
He was particularly questioned with refer
ence To certain vouchers, which bear his sig
NATURE and appear 10 be for legal services
and expense account" 1t all happened so
long ago that the witness could not remember
exactly how this money had been used He
was certain that none OF II WIS used tor any
but legal and proper purposes.
Anderson asked the witness il he thought it
proper to rhis money in the payment of
large fees to members of congress at the time
bills Of great pecuniHry interest 10 the Cen
trial Pacific company We're pending and before
the feed members had voted thereon.
Witness answered. 81 should hesitate be-
! fore paying such fee. OF course, when we
wanted legal advice, and we required it fire.
| Iuenty we always wanted the best. don't
remember any such case that you suggest. p"
Huntington said that between 1872 and the
,r....,t TINS thar. hat b..an msnv. HIN il, con-
-. .ff,.,in,, ,h.. ,,a,tr.l p.,.iti, ,.,,,,,r.nv
a., o., r..,...csorv t LIT daoI -
r.,,,.,,,,,, ,t ro.,l f, rb ;,.fo.-
- : - Ii, :,
-, ,,s,, ~ ,,,,,,,.,,. I, ,.esSar, 70
r,,.,,, md am,,Iov man IN snnroacb con
.,,d axnlo;,, ~ thar, ms, bo,,, ,t
-. go n,a non o,,ld No, coo oil of
-, l,,-,s,.,or. rJ IL ,,,as ,,a,.,ss..,, fo,. n
-, -, .,+ &C ,,,,,,...,,,,-,,, "A
,,.t, - :. I,- -; !, ,,,,,.
,.,t,, ,.nnsti,,ant and il vas n..c.ss.r,, To
IN, al ,,J f,si,r,,., than, IN same
lv..r. thi,,-sl,,,,..d and afraid tbay vera f,a-
,, ,.,,,,r,,,,,,I for ,,I.,..tI ,,r,,l,s. .,,t Il
No.. ,i,fr.,,I, II, cat I.po,yIsd,,. 81 TIA. trno
/ tt.,-
| H.. tb., ,,,t,ass bat,an .o ,,a+ ,nc,,v with
,h. sn,yes,ion. in AndarSsn,s in,.rrocyoto
,,.t IL, mos so,,,ot,.inc. ,,ar.t -, H. I.,
-. - h;s ,a,,a.s "a h. ,,-,l,.,a1,l e.
i,n,.,ssio,,a,5 sro.,.h H., ali. O.
! H., If t,,,..li,,ad ,,ol,t,ri.ns are aIpsvs
II. H., =. $500, ,,.,,s,,.,,.,i,,,, -, 80,
| II II 80, :, -. -. -"
,'E.,,,.ai.,,, -. .ha, ~
| ii 49,, : al $50, III of on inn
| cent CONSTRUCTION out perhaps IL would pe a.
we'll not to publish the letters, though there